STEM Innovation Petrovietnam: Sowing seeds of knowledge

In early November 2025, Petrovietnam's STEM Innovation program survey team visited a number of schools in the Southeast region.

Petrovietnam STEM Innovation Program has a big goal: Building 100 international standard STEM practice rooms within 100 days. The program has a total budget of about 500 billion VND from the Group's social security fund. This is an important boost for STEM education nationwide, creating conditions for teachers and students to experience modern technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), IoT, Robotics right at school. The stories at the three schools below are vivid proof of the significance of this program for schools, teachers and students.

Chau Thanh High School (Ba Ria Ward, Ho Chi Minh City): Persistently sowing the seeds of creativity

Chau Thanh High School is located in Phuoc Hiep Ward, a disadvantaged area of ​​the former Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province (now Ba Ria Ward, Ho Chi Minh City). Although it does not have a modern practice room, the school has actively participated in science and technology competitions for many years and has always achieved high results. In the 2024-2025 school year, the school won two first prizes at the provincial science and technology competition, and also won third prize in the innovation and start-up competition for students organized by a university in Ho Chi Minh City. Almost every year, the school has won prizes at the provincial science and technology competition, affirming its position as an innovative high school.

Notably, a few years ago, the school invested in an agricultural STEM lab, but the equipment has now deteriorated and is no longer used effectively. The lack of facilities does not prevent Chau Thanh teachers and students from nurturing their passion: they still diligently research and shine in creative playgrounds.

Chau Thanh High School (Ba Ria Ward, Ho Chi Minh City). Photo: Petrovietnam.

Ms. Tran Ngoc Xuan - Principal of Chau Thanh High School shared: The school has proactively sought social resources to support students in realizing their scientific ideas. From parents, teachers to alumni, everyone has contributed to helping Chau Thanh students turn theory into practical products. For example, a former student of the school, who now works at a software company in the United States, has volunteered to open an online class to provide technical guidance to groups of students researching STEM projects.

Previously, many parents were also willing to invest money and connect with experts to advise and evaluate products for their children. Thanks to that valuable support, despite the lack of equipment, Chau Thanh teachers and students still created creative projects that won high awards.

The classroom area of ​​Chau Thanh High School is expected to be converted into an international standard STEM room sponsored by Petrovietnam. Photo: Petrovietnam.

When asked about her expectations for the STEM room, Ms. Xuan expressed her desire to have a modern, interdisciplinary practice space: "The school wishes to sponsor a STEM room that can be effectively applied to teaching... even if it is upgraded to a STEAM room, the better." Because STEM education at the secondary level requires a higher level of equipment than at lower levels. She cited that students need to experience the entire process from design to product manufacturing - for example, designing a phone case on a computer and then printing it out in plastic, so the classroom should have enough powerful computers, design software and machines such as 3D printers, mini CNC cutting machines to turn ideas on the screen into tangible items.

Ms. Xuan hopes that with the support of Petrovietnam, students' creative ideas will no longer have to "borrow" outside equipment, but will sprout right in the school's modern Lab.

Quang Trung Secondary School (Tan Phu town, Dong Nai province): STEM fire in remote areas

Like Chau Thanh High School, Quang Trung Middle School is located in a remote town in Dong Nai province. The school's physical facilities are still limited, and to date the school does not have a standard laboratory for STEM activities. However, the passion for science at this school is still burning brightly thanks to the dedication of the teachers.

The classroom area of ​​Quang Trung Secondary School is expected to be converted into an international standard STEM room sponsored by Petrovietnam. Photo: Petrovietnam.

Mr. Nguyen Thai Hoang - Principal of Quang Trung Secondary School - said that the school has had a tradition of STEM club activities for many years. About ten teachers from the Natural Science groups and some teachers from Math, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Technology... participate in the club. Students in the whole school are very excited about STEM activities. The school even organizes a science festival "Celebrating the Party - Celebrating Spring" every year, where each class prepares products to compete and display right in the school yard. From this playground, many unique ideas have been born and invested in to develop into competition projects at all levels. Products of Quang Trung Secondary School students regularly win high prizes at the provincial level, and recently, some of their topics have been selected to compete at the national level.

To maintain STEM activities in the shortage conditions, teachers at Quang Trung Secondary School have come up with many "self-reliant" initiatives. According to Ms. Truong Thi Tram Anh - Natural Science teacher, in charge of the STEM club, the school makes the most of available subject classrooms to serve as meeting places for research groups. Regarding equipment, teachers proactively use all sources of support: temporarily borrowing tools from the school's old laboratory, calling for help from parents with expertise, and even "homemade" simple teaching aids. "Most of the teaching aids and experimental tools are researched and utilized by teachers and parents. Some parents work at an essential oil distillery, so they can contribute many useful equipment to the school," said Ms. Tram Anh.

Despite many difficulties, since 2015, STEM activities at Quang Trung Secondary School have never been interrupted - thanks to the dedication and perseverance of the teaching staff and the enthusiastic support from parents and the local community.

When they heard that their school was selected for a survey to invest in a STEM room, the teachers of Quang Trung Secondary School were very moved. “Our school is in a remote area but was selected among the few schools to receive sponsorship. The school is very happy and appreciates this,” the Principal expressed.

For teachers and students of Quang Trung Secondary School, the STEM room is a timely “boost” after many years of silent efforts. Mr. Hoang shared that the new STEM room will be a center for connecting the community: “The expectation is that the STEM room will not only be used by students of Quang Trung Secondary School, but also neighboring schools will come to learn, visit, and exchange.”

It can be seen that the happiness of teachers in remote areas lies not only in the modern equipment that is about to be available, but also in the opportunity to broaden the horizons of knowledge for students inside and outside the school. The STEM flame that has been smoldering for many years at Quang Trung Secondary School is now about to flare up more strongly than ever.

Trinh Hoai Duc High School (Thuan An Ward, Ho Chi Minh City): Ready for a breakthrough

As one of the key schools of the former Binh Duong province (now Ho Chi Minh City) with nearly 1,500 students, Trinh Hoai Duc High School has more advantages than the two schools above. Right from the stage of implementing the new general education program, the school has focused on STEM activities. In 2020, the school equipped a "Lab 4.0" classroom with computers and basic tools, creating conditions for students to get acquainted with programming and manufacturing technology products. On that basis, the school organizes STEM clubs to attract students who are passionate about scientific research.

Trinh Hoai Duc High School (Thuan An Ward, Ho Chi Minh City). Photo: Petrovietnam.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Thi - Vice Principal of the school said: "Current STEM education activities are mainly at the level of establishing clubs, talented students join those clubs". In the clubs, students of Trinh Hoai Duc High School have developed many creative projects, some of which were introduced at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technical Education and were highly appreciated.

In addition, the school also actively cooperates with major universities, periodically bringing students to visit and learn at modern laboratories of universities and research institutes. Thanks to that, students are soon exposed to professional research environments and have a clearer orientation about their future careers. Teacher Thi commented that when students participate in STEM projects and clubs, they have a clearer orientation in choosing a career, and at the same time, they have more knowledge and skills to confidently participate in outside academic playgrounds.

The teaching staff of Trinh Hoai Duc High School is also very proactive in improving their capacity. The school prioritizes recruiting young, enthusiastic teachers and boldly sends teachers to participate in STEM training courses organized by the Department of Education or universities. This is the core force, ready to receive and effectively exploit the STEM classrooms that will be equipped.

Information about the sponsorship program of Petrovietnam made teachers and students of Trinh Hoai Duc High School very excited. “When we heard that Petrovietnam would sponsor the STEM room for the school, the whole school was very happy. We hope that with this classroom, the school can organize many practical activities for students to apply their skills and prepare for the future,” said Mr. Thi.

The Board of Directors has also considered expanding the scale of STEM education: Instead of just being limited to elective clubs, the school plans to make STEM an official learning direction for students right from the beginning of the grade. Obviously, with careful preparation in terms of human resources and planning, Trinh Hoai Duc High School is ready for a breakthrough when the STEM room comes into operation.

Strategic vision and implications

The above stories are a small slice of how the Petrovietnam STEM Innovation program is creating positive changes in schools. From being lacking in many areas, especially in practice rooms, schools now face the prospect of a “transformation” thanks to modern interactive STEM rooms. In return, the persistent efforts of teachers and students over the past time will be fueled to reach new heights.

The cooperation of a large enterprise like Petrovietnam with educational institutions has opened a new direction, helping to shorten the gap between policy and practice: The policies on educational innovation, science and technology are now being realized through specific experiences for students. It can be said that this program is a vivid example of an effective cooperation model between the State - School - Enterprise - Society in nurturing talent from an early age.

Students practice at the STEM room of Cau Giay Secondary School. Photo: Petrovietnam.

With the nationwide deployment, Petrovietnam affirms its goal of contributing to promoting innovation, accompanying the development and training of high-quality human resources, implementing strategic resolutions on science - technology and education - training. More importantly, STEM Innovation also demonstrates a development philosophy based on knowledge and people that the Vietnam National Industry and Energy Group - an economic locomotive, is striving for in its role as a "sponsor" for knowledge and the development of the national technology sector. The STEM Innovation program has proven that a state-owned enterprise can completely pioneer innovation, linking education with production, science with practice.

During 50 years of development, Petrovietnam has always linked economic growth with social responsibility and human development. From programs such as “House of Great Unity”, “Lighting up the Countryside”, Petrovietnam Scholarship, to now “Petrovietnam Classroom” of STEM Innovation - all clearly demonstrate the development philosophy: “For the Vietnamese people, for the future of the country”.

The birth of 100 STEM rooms across the regions is also 100 “technological seeds” sown, promising to flourish in the “nursery” of generations of excellent Vietnamese students. Each classroom donated is not only equipment, but also a trust placed in the young generation, a specific commitment of the enterprise to the cause of cultivating people. When the State - School - Enterprise share the same aspiration, those “seeds” will grow into big trees, contributing to building an innovative and self-reliant Vietnam in the future.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/stem-innovation-petrovietnam-gioi-hat-mam-tri-thuc-d783535.html